Victorian Liberal MP Julia Banks has quit the government backbench and will spend her remaining time in parliament as an independent, after a stunning announcement at midday in the House of Representatives.

Banks -- the only Liberal MP to win a seat off Labor in the 2016 election -- announced in the wake of the ousting of Malcolm Turnbull that she would not be recontesting her seat of Chisholm, and complained of bullying behaviour by supporters of Peter Dutton during the leadership crisis. She signally failed to receive any backing from Victorian state Liberal president Michael Kroger, who dismissed her on the basis that "politics is a rough business."

Good morning, early birds. Scott Morrison has announced changes to Liberal Party rules governing leadership spills, Victoria will launch a royal commission into the convictions of notorious gangland figures, and reports emerge that the Brisbane Broncos' leadership change narrowly staved off a player revolt. It's the news you need to know, with Chris Woods.